THE IRA yesterday declared an end to its 36-year campaign of terrorism as Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams pronounced it "a time for peace.

THE IRA yesterday declared an end to its 36-year campaign of terrorism as Sinn Fein chief Gerry Adams pronounced it "a time for peace...a time for justice".

As London held its breath for more attacks by the new enemy in our midst, the men who murdered Lord Mountbatten bombed Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet and mortared Downing Street laid down their arms.

The Provisionals said they were now committed to seeking their political aims through "exclusively peaceful means".

Weapons dumping will be watched over by church representatives in liaison with the International Commission on Decommissioning.

All criminal activity - including bank raids, punishment beatings and fund-raising for terrorism - has been outlawed by the leadership. But the Provisionals will not be formally disbanding.

As the Troubles ended - with about 1,800 civilian and security forces' deaths out of a total 3,000-plus put down to the IRA - Tony Blair warmly greeted the announcement. Eight years after the Good Friday Agreement pointed the way to peace, he said: "This may be the day when finally, after all the false dawns and dashed hopes, peace replaced war, politics replaces terror on the island of Ireland."

Sinn Fein's Mr Adams, said to have resigned from the IRA council earlier this week, said in a trembling voice: "National liberation struggles can have different phases.

"There is a time to resist, to stand up and to confront the enemy by arms, if necessary.

"In other words, there is a time for war. There is also a time to engage, to reach out, to put the war behind us all.

"There is a time for peace. There is a time for justice. There is a time for rebuilding. This is that time. This is the era of the nation-builders."

Mr Adams added: "I would urge all Irish nationalists and republicans, including those who have shown such commitment as volunteers of the IRA, to put their un-doubted talents and energy into building a new Ireland."

Irish Premier Bertie Ahern said: "The war is over, the IRA's armed campaign is over, paramilitarism is over and I believe that we can look to the future of peace and prosperity."

Unionists were cautious. Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said: "So let us see how this plays out. Let us see what happens to the weapons, let us see what happens on the ground."

The DUP's Rev Ian Paisley said more "transparency" was needed to truly build con-fidence that the guns had gone in their entirety.

Colin Parry, whose 12-year-old son Tim was killed in the Warrington bombing in 1993, said: "The IRA have a history of tantalising people with tales of the promised land and we've yet to get there. On balance, I'm more optimistic than pessimistic."

British troops were sent to Ulster in 1969, just as the Provisionals were about to emerge after the "old" IRA - dating back to the 1916 Easter Rising - recognised the parliaments in Dublin, Belfast and Westminster.

In 1972, came Bloody Sunday when paratroopers fired on a Catholic civil rights march, killing 13.

Yesterday, the three decades of violence that have followed were ended in a statement by DVD that was delivered to the BBC in Belfast.

Instead of the usual balaclava-clad volunteer flanked by minders with rifles, senior Provo Seanna Walsh appeared on the recording in a gleaming white, open-necked shirt to dedicate himself to peace.

Standing in what appeared to be a garden or field, he said: "The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann (Irish Republican Army) has formally ordered an end to the armed campaign. This will take effect from 4pm this afternoon.

"All IRA units have been ordered to dump arms. All volunteers have been instructed to assist the development of purely political and democratic programmes through exclusively peaceful means. Volunteers must not engage in any other activities whatsoever."

During simultaneous press conferences in Dublin, London, Washington DC and Brussels, Sinn Fein leaders stressed that the statement should be seen as a commitment to the revival of the dead-locked peace process.

The IRA said it was responding to the call to disarm made by Mr Adams during the general election only after extensive consultation with grass-roots members. Its statement went on: "We are proud of the comradely way in which this truly historic discussion was conducted.

"The outcome of our consultations shows very strong support among IRA volunteers for the Sinn Fein peace strategy. There is also widespread concern about the failure of the two governments (British and Irish Republic) and the Unionists to fully engage in the peace process. This has created real difficulties.

"The overwhelming majority of people in Ireland fully support this process. They and friends of Irish unity throughout the world want to see the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.

"Notwithstanding these difficulties, our decisions have been taken to advance our republican and democratic objectives, including our goal of a united Ireland.

"We believe there is now an alternative way to achieve this and to end British rule in our country."

"We are conscious that many people suffered in the conflict. There is a compelling imperative on all sides to build a just and lasting peace."

The Provos stressed the importance of avoiding a return to what they called the "pogroms" of 1969 and the early 70s, in which Catholics were terrorised by Loyalist thugs - leading to the proclaimed re-emergence of the IRA as a defence force.

They were extraordinary words from Provo Walsh, a man committed to terrorist war since his teens and who grew up in prison where he served lengthy spells.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain later said the Government had ordered a monitoring body to verify whether arms had been put out of use by January 2006.

He said of the IRA's vow of peace: "It opens up the pro-spect that devolved government can be re-established in Northern Ireland and on an inclusive basis."

Mr Blair called it "a step of unprecedented magnitude" in the recent history of Northern Ireland. "The Unionist community, in particular, and all of us throughout Ireland and the United Kingdom will want to see this clear statement of principle kept to in practice."

He added: "The IRA believe that their means were justified. The rest of us do not and we will remember today the many thousands of victims of their campaign."

President Bush said the need was for "actions demonstrating the republican movement's unequivocal commitment to the rule of law".

Ex-President Bill Clinton, a key player in the peace process, said: "If it is done and verified it represents the fulfilment of something I have worked for since 1994."

The sister of dad Robert McCartney, 33, whose murder by a suspected Provo gang in January caused revulsion, said the statement did not address criminality.

Teacher Catherine said it called for a halt to crime but did not say "what happens if they don't stop it".